It will allow you to customize the iso/install package, slipstream updates and service packs, brand it, add software packages, as well as create a bootable usb drive ... all in one step.

It's great and I use it all the time. Someone above mentioned that you can only do this (I may not have understood) with "Windows Client Software Assurance." I am not sure if he meant that legally or technically, but ...... you can do it with ANY version of Windows as easily as ANY OTHER version of Windows, provided you have the appropriate license or key...... that being said, it will still work even if you don't, but then it just won't be legit and you will have your typical activation period to contend with. I've used RT7Lite with a volume license, an OEM iso, as well as a retail Pro iso... so I may not have understood him ....

It's great and I use it all the time. Someone above mentioned that you can only do this (I may not have understood) with "Windows Client Software Assurance." I am not sure if he meant that legally or technically, but ...... you can do it with ANY version of Windows as easily as ANY OTHER version of Windows, provided you have the appropriate license or key...... that being said, it will still work even if you don't, but then it just won't be legit and you will have your typical activation period to contend with. I've used RT7Lite with a volume license, an OEM iso, as well as a retail Pro iso... so I may not have understood him ....

EXACTLY.. you wont be legal if you get audited.. but nothing says you cant "technically" do it.

License wise - you need SA if you are going to use that thumb drive in any PC other than the licensed device.

It's great and I use it all the time. Someone above mentioned that you can only do this (I may not have understood) with "Windows Client Software Assurance." I am not sure if he meant that legally or technically, but ...... you can do it with ANY version of Windows as easily as ANY OTHER version of Windows, provided you have the appropriate license or key...... that being said, it will still work even if you don't, but then it just won't be legit and you will have your typical activation period to contend with. I've used RT7Lite with a volume license, an OEM iso, as well as a retail Pro iso... so I may not have understood him ....

EXACTLY.. you wont be legal if you get audited.. but nothing says you cant "technically" do it.

License wise - you need SA if you are going to use that thumb drive in any PC other than the licensed device.

I don't see how you can say you won't be legal...... If I have a computer company selling OEM systems and 50 OEM licenses to be affixed to pc's. I don't see how imaging it with a USB boot drive compared to Ghost or any other imaging method would be considered illegal. You'd still have to affix the COA and enter it to activate..... I also have no idea how anyone would ever know what method I used for the install. They would see an OEM COA, they would then "audit" the pc and see that it was installed using the corresponding OEM version and using the matching key..... What license rule would that break exactly?

"License wise - you need SA if you are going to use that thumb drive in any PC other than the licensed device."

You are making an assumption that you would be using that "generic" thumb drive which is not licensed to any PC (It's merely a copy of the OEM cd/dvd) on a bootable USB key. Maybe we are talking apples and oranges, but EVERY OEM/mom&pop computer shop out there, copies the OEM cd (or uses something like ghost) and uses one or two "shop cd's" to install all their OS's..... would you say that is also illegal? The thumb drive does not have to contain a license whatsoever, and would still require one to be entered and activated.

the OEM license is assigned to a device - that device is the licensed device. PERIOD. No transfer rights. OEM licenses alone do NOT have reimaging rights. So technically if you cant use OEM licenses if you want to deploy a standard image to 50 PCs - even if those 50 PCs have a valid OEM license.

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If you dont believe me that you need SA or Windows VDA to be licensed to access a OS on a USB drive - talk to your Microsoft authorized reseller.

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when you say "every mom and pop shop" does it - arent we making assumptions? :S

the OEM license is assigned to a device - that device is the licensed device. PERIOD. No transfer rights. OEM licenses alone do NOT have reimaging rights. So technically if you cant use OEM licenses if you want to deploy a standard image to 50 PCs - even if those 50 PCs have a valid OEM license.

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If you dont believe me that you need SA or Windows VDA to be licensed to access a OS on a USB drive - talk to your Microsoft authorized reseller.

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when you say "every mom and pop shop" does it - arent we making assumptions? :S

Well I dont see how an OEM license can be associated to a machine, as when we ordered OEM licenses they came on a roll.... like a roll of stickers...... 50 or 100 or 150 or whatever....... We built the machines and affixed the licenses.... PRIOR to affixing those licenses while they are all on a roll of 50, how/what machine are they associated to?

How does HP, Dell, or any other company install their oem versions.... they all have OEM COA's.... are you saying they installed each one manually... because they arent allowed to use a standard image?

Yes I can promise you.... every computer shop out there that sells computer they have built themselves... image it via one method or another..... they do not install from disc.... do you really beleive that?

the OEM license is assigned to a device - that device is the licensed device. PERIOD. No transfer rights. OEM licenses alone do NOT have reimaging rights. So technically if you cant use OEM licenses if you want to deploy a standard image to 50 PCs - even if those 50 PCs have a valid OEM license.

--

If you dont believe me that you need SA or Windows VDA to be licensed to access a OS on a USB drive - talk to your Microsoft authorized reseller.

--

when you say "every mom and pop shop" does it - arent we making assumptions? :S

Well I dont see how an OEM license can be associated to a machine, as when we ordered OEM licenses they came on a roll.... like a roll of stickers...... 50 or 100 or 150 or whatever....... We built the machines and affixed the licenses.... PRIOR to affixing those licenses while they are all on a roll of 50, how/what machine are they associated to?

How does HP, Dell, or any other company install their oem versions.... they all have OEM COA's.... are you saying they installed each one manually... because they arent allowed to use a standard image?

Yes I can promise you.... every computer shop out there that sells computer they have built themselves... image it via one method or another..... they do not install from disc.... do you really beleive that?

So going back to the beginning of this conversation where you said you cannot do this with an OEM version, and now you are saying HP and DELL can with their version. How do you know where the poster of this question works??????? Before telling him he cannot....?

I am talking about building new pc's not buying new pc's... (as the poster of this question is referring to). Again you are making assumtpions.... saying that Dell and HP have priviledges that the mom & pop shop "don't" is a complete assumption as they very well could have..... as in the very scenario that I am talking about and my previous place of employment, where they bought licenses.... in bulk..... (perhaps it was 30 packs and they bought 5.... =150) Those licenses were not associated to any particular PC until we built them and attached them to a PC.... we used ghost to image all those machines, and could have just as easily used a bootable usb key... legally!